The provincial government has opened applications for the new Ontario Small Business Support Grant.

The grant, first announced in December, provides a minimum of $10,000 to a maximum of $20,000 to eligible small businesses who have had to restrict their operations due to the Province-wide Shutdown. The tightened restrictions were put in place to help stop the alarming rise of COVID-19 cases in Ontario.

Small businesses required to close or significantly restrict services under the Province-wide Shutdown will be able to apply for a one-time grant and use this funding in whatever way makes the most sense for their individual business needs. For example, some businesses could need support paying employee wages, while others could need support with their rent.

“I have received a lot of inquiries from business owners in Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound about this program and I’m happy to see it is now accepting applications,” said  Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound MPP Bill  Walker. “The grants this program will provide to eligible businesses are vital supports for our local business community during these difficult times.”

Eligible small businesses include those that:

• Were required to close or significantly restrict services due to the Province-wide Shutdown being imposed across the province effective 12:01 a.m. on December 26.
• Have fewer than 100 employees at the enterprise level.
• Have experienced a minimum of 20 per cent revenue decline in April 2020 compared to April 2019. New businesses established since April 2019 will also be eligible if they meet the other eligibility criteria.

• The businesses must demonstrate they experienced a revenue decline of at least 20 per cent when comparing monthly revenue in April 2019 and April 2020. This time period was selected because it reflects the impact of the public health measures in spring 2020, and as such provides a representation of the possible impact of these latest measures on small businesses.  
• New businesses established since April 2019 will also be eligible if they meet the other eligibility criteria. They will be able to select alternative months for comparing revenue decline through the application portal. In addition, winter seasonal businesses, such as ski hills, will be permitted to compare revenue from December 2019 or January 2020 to December 2020. 

Businesses impacted by the Province-wide Shutdown are also eligible for additional supports, including the government's program to provide rebates to offset fixed costs such as property tax and energy bills. These rebates will continue to be available for businesses impacted by the Provincewide Shutdown and earlier restrictions.

More information about the Ontario Small Business Support Grant and other rebates is available on Ontario.ca/COVIDsupport.

source: media release, Bill Walker MPP